Zukas Cycles Cyclocross

Cycling Australia’s 2013 National Cyclocross Series is drawing to a close, with Races 1 and 2 being held in Adelaide over June. Melbourne photographer Andy Rogers has been following the rounds and documenting each through his skilled lens. While in the South Australian capital, he was captivated by a ‘cross frame by Nate Zukas, a custom frame builder from Augusta, Georgia, USA.

It’s interesting to note the work of builders who have come from a MTB background, like Portland’s Tony Pereira, who apply the experience learned off-road to their frames. It affords the edge that a strict diet of road riding yearns for. Nate started riding in dirt in 1986, moved onto the tarmac to race in 2002 and has finally found his groove on the cyclocross circuit.

His bio and portfolio reveals a big-hearted and innovative designer of 29er, 26″ MTB and road frames, but his ‘crossers are something else. This one belongs to Jay, an Aussie customer, and shows off the trademark lugged bottom bracket shell and meshed window, enabling drainage but preventing muck from entering the bearings. Nate also does his own frame painting in-house, without the use of decals.

Nate’s lugged-and-fillet brazed Tisdale 29er is a special story too: It’s designed around the favorite style of Johnathan Tisdale, a close friend who sadly passed away from a brain tumor in 2011. 10% of the (very reasonable) frame price is donated to the Tisdale Children Education Fund. Special thanks to Andy Rogers for the photography—head to his Fame & Spear website and flickr for more.